The University, via the Development Office, seeks to raise funds in support of the University’s academic priorities. The Development Office collaborates with colleagues throughout the collegiate University.
The University’s fundraising goals fit into three broad categories:
- Supporting students through scholarships, access schemes, sport and other aspects of student life
- Supporting academic posts and programmes of teaching and research
- Supporting infrastructure and buildings
Who?
The development function is led by Liesl Elder, Chief Development and Alumni Engagement Officer, supported by Antony Green, Kirstine Knox, Kate Lawton, Liz Miller.
The development team includes fundraisers for the academic divisions, as well as the Gardens, Libraries and Museums (GLAM), trusts and foundations, corporations, student support, and sport, together with prospect research, communications, donor relations, proposals, regular giving and legacies, Gift Registry, and the University-wide fundraising database, DARS. The University has three overseas offices with development and alumni responsibilities: the North American Office in New York, the Asia Office in Tokyo, and the China Office in Hong Kong.
What?
The development team helps to secure philanthropic support for the University’s agreed academic priorities. It also works in partnership with development and academic colleagues throughout the collegiate University, providing development resources to them, and building enduring relationships with the University’s supporters. The engagement and involvement of academic and other colleagues in the process of building relationships towards philanthropic support is a critical part of effective fundraising. Fundraising across the collegiate University is subject to the Relationship Management Protocols. These govern the co-ordination of fundraising across the collegiate University for everyone working in fundraising and alumni relations, and it is the responsibility of the University development team to help co-ordinate fundraising activity in all parts of the University, in liaison with the Conference of Colleges and Development Panel.
From its beginnings, the University has relied upon friends and benefactors to help realise its mission of learning and advancement. Today, the effects of philanthropy can be seen in every corner of the University.
Why?
Donations help the University to effect a permanent transformation in the way that the University sustains itself at the highest level of excellence as it pursues its academic priorities. By increasing the number of donors, volunteers and advocates for the University and the colleges, and the number and size of gifts made, our goal is to increase financial support for the University’s academic priorities. Government funding has never been sufficient to finance our world-class research and teaching. To maintain our high standards, we must create a much greater degree of financial freedom. Philanthropic support, particularly endowments, will help secure this mission.
I will take the charge and cost upon me, to reduce it again to his former use, and to make it fit and handsome with seates and shelfes and deskes, and all that may be needful, to stir up other men’s benevolence to help to furnish it with books.